The effect of four weeks of concurrent training and consumption of vitamins E and C on the acute response of serum immunoglobulins and cortisol to an exhaustive aerobic activity

Physical activity and some antioxidants such as vitamins E and C are effective factors on the immune system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of four weeks of concurrent training and consumption of vitamins E and C on the acute response of serum immunoglobulin and cortisol to an exhaustive aerobic activity in inactive women.

The present study was a quasi-experimental study. 24 women were randomly divided into two equal groups (n=12) including concurrent exercise (endurance and resistance) + vitamin supplement (E and C); and concurrent training (endurance and resistance) + placebo groups. Blood sampling was taken before and after a session of exhaustive aerobic activity (activity with an intensity of 75% of the maximum reserve heart rate on the treadmill) and after four weeks of concurrent activity along with supplementation. The concurrent exercise+vitamin supplement (E and C) group performed four weeks of concurrent exercise (three exercise sessions per week) with a 30-day vitamin E and C supplement (500 mg vitamin C and 200 mg vitamin C) was administered twice daily. Serum cortisol and immunoglobulins were measured by gamma and nephelometric methods, respectively. To compare the changes before and after a session of exhausting activity of the two groups, analysis of covariance was used. Moreover, to determine the difference between groups of variables after four stages of measurement, repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests also were used at a significance level of p˂0.05.

After the intervention, in the vitamin supplement (E and C) group there was a significant increase in IgM (p=0.03) and IgA (p=0.004). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in IgG (p=0.007) compared to the placebo group. On the other hand, the significant difference in cortisol (p=0.13), upper body muscle strength (p=0.31), lower body muscle strength (p=0.53), upper body muscle endurance (p=0.66), and maximum oxygen consumption (p=0.12) of two concurrent exercise-vitamin supplements (E and C) and concurrent exercise + placebo didn’t observed; while the lower body muscle endurance of the complement group showed significantly increased (p=0.003).

consumption of vitamins C and E along with concurrent endurance and resistance training (four weeks) have optimal effects on the safety and physical fitness of inactive women. Vitamins C and E can also improve acute changes in serum immunoglobulins and cortisol levels after debilitating activity.